Bruce demands 100 per cent from Cats

25 December 2009 03:54

STEVE Bruce is demanding 100 per cent effort from his Sunderland players as they attempt to rise from an alarming slump.

Everton visit the Stadium of Light tomorrow, with Bruce well aware Arsenal are the only side the Black Cats have beaten in their last nine Barclays Premier League games.

He suggests nothing over than full commitment will be acceptable, and recognises teams will pick off Sunderland if they detect any signs of weakness.

Bruce was given some encouragement by last week's performance away to Manchester City, where Sunderland lost 4-3.

He explained: "The Premier League is unforgiving and if you just make individual errors, you come two, three, four, five per cent off your maximum, you get punished by any team, and we have learnt a harsh lesson.

"We have put ourselves under a bit of pressure - everybody is under pressure in the Premier League, that's what it is - and we have got to get back to the way we were three, four, five weeks ago, and there were signs last week.

"If we do that against Everton and get a win under our belts, that may kick-start us on again."